Bans given after Owens abuse

The Rugby Football Union has issued two-year Twickenham bans to two men accused of directing homophobic abuse at referee Nigel Owens, the governing body has announced.

The RFU launched an investigation into allegations of offensive language used against Owens, who is openly gay, made by a spectator who attended the 24-21 defeat by New Zealand in the opening QBE International earlier this month.

The two supporters are banned from attending all matches at Twickenham for two years and will also pay £1,000 each to a charity of Owens’ choice.

The matter was first brought to light when a spectator witnessed the abuse from a group of men he estimated to be their mid-30s and subsequently wrote a letter to a national newspaper outlining what he had heard.